Highlander Marching Band wins State Championship
By Patricia Keller
WEST MILFORD ‑‑ The West Milford Highlander Marching Band, after winning the USBands State Championship last month at Rutgers University High Point Stadium, is heading to Pennslyvania Saturday to compete for the national title.
The band won first place for Group VA with an impressive score of 92.263.
According to the USBands website (https://yea.org/programs/usbands/fall/scores) this was the highest score awarded to any band in all groups that day.
The band also won caption awards for Best Music, Best Percussion, Best Visual, and Best Effect.
The community rallied to greet and congratulate the State Champs with a heartwarming show of applause and a special escort for the band’s buses by local fire companies and police down Highlander Drive to the High School as they returned home.
In a message sent to band members and families, Dr. Brian Mc Laughlin, band director, wrote: “CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE! For the second time ever the Highlander Band is New Jersey State Champion! What a wonderful accomplishment! We are so proud of the whole band!”
The 120-member band has been drawing acclaim from audiences at competitions and football games this season with their 2017 field show “Under My Umbrella.”
It competed in the illustrious USBands Yamaha Cup Competition at MetLife Stadium in October, where the Highlanders took first place, winning the title of 2017 Yamaha Cup Group VA Champions, and also won Caption Awards for Best Overall Music, Best Overall Visual, Best Overall Effect, and Best Overall Percussion. This is also only the second time in the band's history that they have won the Yamaha Cup Championship.
The 2017 field show features the following variety and exciting pieces of music: “Here Comes the Rain Again”- The Eurythmics, “1000 Airplanes on the Roof”- Phillip Glass, “Remember When it Rained”- Josh Groban, “Umbrella”- Rhianna, and “Finale from The Firebird Suite”- Igor Stravinsky.
Said McLaughlin: “This year's show may be the most exciting show we have ever put on the field. It's visually striking, and the music is powerful. Add that to the brilliant performance ability of the band, and you've really got something remarkable.”
So far this season, in addition to winning the 2017 USBands State Championship and Yamaha Cup Championship, the Highlander Band has swept First Place Awards in competitions thus far for Division VA, winning nearly all Caption Awards for the division, as well as receiving Overall Competition Caption Awards, including awards for: Best Music, Best Effect, Best Visual, Best Percussion, Best Color Guard, and Best Band. The competitions were hosted by Wayne Valley, Vernon, Pequannock, Randolph, and Mount Olive High Schools; with the majority also sponsored by the official USBands organization. The Highlander Band will perform their award-winning 2017 field show at the final regular season home football game in West Milford on Friday, Nov. 3 before they compete for the title in the USBands National Competition in Allentown, PA on Saturday, Nov. 4. The band will present an indoor exhibition of their show one last time at the band’s “18th Annual Military Concert and Tattoo” on Saturday, Nov. 11 in the West Milford High School Gym.
Giving back to the communityPerformances by the Highlander Band play a key role at the township’s annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Memorial Day Parade. For17 years, the Highlander Band’s Annual Military Concert and Tattoo held in November has served as a community-wide event and opportunity to honor local veterans, first responders, emergency personnel, law enforcement, and more.
The BIG Finale- community support neededTo conclude their fantastic 2017 season, the Highlander Marching Band will host their season finale’ and fundraiser: the “18th Annual Military Concert and Tattoo” on Saturday, Nov. 11 at the West Milford High School Gym. This year, the Highlanders will honor active duty military men and women: represented by 2017 honoree, US Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. /Recruiting Manager Jeremy Curcio, a former WMHS Graduate and Highlander Band drummer.
According to West Milford Band Parent Association (WMBPA) President Eileen Marzalik, “This is the band’s biggest fundraiser, and helps support the many needs of the band program that fall outside of the school’s budget.” The Tattoo Concert will feature several renowned pipes and drums bands, the Highlander's themselves as they perform their astounding, award-winning 2017 field show “Under My Umbrella”, and the Clifton Mustangs High School High-Stepping Marching Band.+
If you go:
Doors open at 5:15 p.m. for the military concert and tattoo.
Tickets: www.wmhighlanderband.com, click on “Tattoo” tab for information. Tickets may be purchased online or by mail.
Ticket Prices:
Age 13 - Adult: $20.00 advance purchase, ($25.00 at the door)
Ages 60 and Up: $15.00 advance purchase, ($20.00 at the door)
Kids ages 5 - 12: $10.00
Kids age 4 and under: FREE